Why is My Dishwasher Leaking?

Coming downstairs to step in an ominous puddle on the floor is no-one’s favorite way to start the day.

Luckily, most commonly seen explanations of dishwasher leaks are comparably simple to pinpoint and resolve on your own. This means you could not have to hand wash the dishes for more than a day or two, call an engineer or have to pay the call-out charge.

So, if you’re feeling up to it get out the manual if you have it, clean up the puddle and get something soak up any further leaks and see whether you can’t fix the problem. If you aren’t able to call us for local dishwasher repair.

Commonly Seen Causes of Dishwasher Faults and How to Resolve Them

A lot of the more simple sources of dishwasher leaks aren’t in fact a result of a broken dishwasher at all. Before you start getting the tools out as well as watching numerous youtube tutorials there are a couple of things you should take a look at first.

Check to find out if your dishwasher is aligned. If your dishwasher isn’t level water will quickly pool and so leak without there being anything that needs to be resolved or replaced.
Test you are using the right detergent. You could be aware of this problem with your washing machine. An excess of detergent or the wrong type can result in an excess of bubbles, the bubbles spill over and you get a spill.
Check your dishwasher door closes correctly. If there’s a gap you could have something obstructing it such as a large plate, or you may have to adjust the hinge or the locking mechanism.
Check the filter at the base of the machine for any visible obstructions because if your dishwasher isn’t draining effectively this is likely to cause it to overfill and so spill.

Once you have looked at these issues it’s time to roll up your sleeves and start a thorough check.

The easiest place to start is the door and investigate for any obvious damage inside of the machine prior to moving on to the underneath. If you can identify and resolve the issue without pulling out the dishwasher you’ll save yourself a lot of hassle.

Before you do anything else make sure you disconnect the appliance.

Door Seal

The door is probably the most simple area for leakage and also one of the quickest problems to resolve.

If the leakage is periodic the problem might be as easy as a large plate or something else putting pressure against the door and preventing the door from closing correctly.

Else-ways the door gasket might have come out of place or become damaged.

Inspect the door gasket and test for any brittleness, mineral deposits or other debris, or any tracts where the gasket might have come away from the door.

Taking off the gasket and also giving it a thorough wash might improve the situation in some cases or you might have to buy a new gasket and change it.

Water Inlet Valve (Solenoid Fill Valve)

The water inlet valve can be another everyday problem. This is usually found underneath the machine so you may have to unscrew the toe board and also could have to unscrew the door cover.

The inlet valve opens and closes to allow water into the machine at various times during the programme. The water inlet valve could be showing a leak, shown by a slight drip, or it may be damaged and so not functioning properly throughout the programme.

When the fill valve fails to shut correctly this can result in the dishwasher overfilling and result in a leak.

Often these valves cannot be fixed unless it is only the rubber gasket that is damaged, thus the whole part would need to be replaced.

Leaking Hoses

Your dishwasher uses hoses to fill, drain and also redistribute water within the programme.

Two issues may arise with hoses.

The gaskets can go or the connections can work loose thus it’s a good idea to have a look at all the connections .
The alternative problem than could easily develop over time is that hoses can become degraded or get a hole in.

Luckily damaged hoses are relatively simple to buy as well as replace, even for a novice.

Pumps and Gaskets

You are able to visually check the rubber gaskets around the water pumps or motor to see whether there is a leakage and also replace them if there is.

The Float Switch

The float itself or the float switch might be damaged causing the dishwasher to overfill.

A working float will rise as the water level goes up until it reaches the maximum fill level. The end piece of the float would then activate the switch. If something is blocking this or the float is broken this could be causing your problem.

Checking the switch will require a multi-meter although it could be obviously damaged in which case replacing it should stop the leak.

Other Parts that May Lead to Leakage

A cracked wash arm or support can build up pressure causing a leak. This will also often result in your dishes not being cleaned as effectively as they should.

Broken or faulty lines may likewise cause this issue as can a cracked pump cover.

The motor shaft gasket might have cracked resulting in leakage. This will generally show as a leak coming from the underside of the dishwasher.

Top Tips to Mend Your Machine

Spend less by changing the gasket instead of the whole part. In many cases, you can buy the seal without the rest of the part which saves time as well as money.
Check the simple fixes first. There’s no point pulling the entire thing away from the wall if it’s the detergent that’s causing the issue.
Photograph your progress. This may help you reverse the process, explain the component you need in a store, and explain the issue to a repair person if needed.
Stay safe. Water and electricity do not mix so unplug the machine first.
If you’re not sure call the professionals.

What To Do Next If Your Trouble Shooting Fails to Identify or Resolve the Leakage

If the root of the issue remains a mystery the thing you could do is to pull the machine away from the wall to get better access beneath it and add water to the tub to see whether the leak becomes visible.

If this doesn’t shed any light your appliance may only leak when it’s running. In this instance, you may wish to employ a dishwasher repair person to diagnose and fix the issue as there are safety risks of running the dishwasher with electrical parts uncovered.